California (CHiP) Highway Patrol Car 1:24 Scale Lindberg Model Kit #72796 Review
Right On Replicas, LLC Step-by-Step Review 20140507*
California (CHiP) Highway Patrol Car 1:24 Scale Lindberg Model Kit #72796 Review
Review and Photos by Alan Mann 
In early 2006, Daimler-Chrysler released a new police version of the Charger. It made its debut at the 2005 New York International Auto Show. Unlike the civilian version, the police version features upgraded heavy-duty brakes, a severe-duty cooling system, police-performance Electronic Stability Program, police performance-tuned steering, and a gear shifter that is mounted on the steering column instead of in the center console. In place of the center console, Dodge has equipped the police edition with an aluminum plate appropriate for mounting radio equipment, computers, and controllers for lights and sirens. The vehicle’s electrical system is specifically designed for integration of siren and light controls, and other police vehicle accessories. The Charger is in use with many American police departments. The 340hp Hemi V8 is powerful enough to accelerate the car from 0 to 60 mph in 6.0 seconds and to a top speed of 146 mph. In Michigan State Police testing, the Charger V8 easily outperformed all other pursuit vehicles in acceleration, cornering, and braking (except the Dodge Magnum and V6 Charger, which stopped slightly faster in some tests) in the first five years since its introduction. When the Charger was redesigned for 2011 the police package version was renamed Dodge Charger Pursuit.
For the modeler: This review is based on the Undecorated version of this kit sold as Lindberg Kit #72796. Aftermarket decals were used to produce a CHP Police Car. Sources for these decals are listed in the full review. It is Skill level: 2 1/24 scale kit for the intermediate builder. The kit contains and amazing 274 parts molded in White, Clear and Chrome with vinyl tires. This is a current release from 2010 and the kits are still available and released as current production. The kit is the same in every version but is packaged in seven different Police agency and blank (undecorated) car versions. Included in this kit are Stock parts to build a NON POLICE UNIT also. Because it is a multiple version kit it comes with 8 different current use light bars and all the up-to-date Police goodies! The motor is super detailed; you get the stock parts or police versions included. The chassis is molded in multiple parts and is a highly detailed unit. The interior is nicely detailed and has dash details as decals. The door panel detail is crisp and easy to see. You get all kinds of options in the interior for your version choice. The body shell is one piece with a separate hood and bumpers. There are almost no mold lines on the body and are light and easy to sand off. The box information does say it is a pre-painted body but it is not and Lindberg uses a sticker on the shrink wrap to cover that statement! Lindberg sets the bar on quality and quantity with this kit. In one word— IMPRESSIVE! I have found a few problems also but overall they can all be fixed fairly easy. First, the parts trees are covered with injection tabs, many of the parts have them; while easy to remove they become annoying. Second being the plastic Lindberg uses is very difficult to paint with solvent based products. Finished dimensions are Length: 8-1/2″, Width: 3-1/4″, Height: 2-1/4″.
Covered in this Review:Â If you want to perfect your build; basic construction; preparing parts for better finishing; alternate assembly sequence suggestions for fit and ease of finishing; complete paint and adhesive selections and applications; body/frame alignment; engine detailing; test fitting; handling fragile parts; complete engine construction notes; identifying and repairing seams; contest considerations are discussed; sink, tab and mold seam identification; drivetrain alignment;Â detailed suspension and chassis construction; police interior selections and customizing ideas; chassis installation techniques; glass installation and detailing; engine assembly and finishing; detailing the tires for realism; removing the molded trademark scripts; correcting instruction errors; CHP specific decal preparation and application, are all fully examined in this pictorial 21 page, full-color Step-by-Step review in PDF format.
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